My Dear Friend,

May I share with you something that has recently weighed heavily on my heart?

I am deeply grieved by seeing so many ministers teaching their congregations that all Christians will automatically be translated to heaven in the rapture event, regardless of how they are actually living. This view, based on a particular systematic theology, is grossly misleading. It causes Christians to be careless about their spiritual life, think little of sin, and blindly assume that their imputed righteousness given them at new birth will qualify them for the immense privilege of translation to heaven, no questions asked.

My grief is simple: these leaders have gotten it wrong! And they are building not spiritual readiness but blind assumptions in those they lead and unconsciously setting them up for a shocking, colossal failure. What failure? When Jesus suddenly appears, these spiritually unprepared Christians will be left behind.

The history of Israel and the church describe religious leaders who got it wrong on key doctrinal issues. And in every case their errors brought adverse consequences on their followers. Let us review some examples.

From Jewish History

The Pharisees are a prime example of erring Jewish leaders.

• Outwardly zealous for the Torah, the Pharisees were experts in the letter of the law. Yet because they were not obedient (Matthew 23:3; 23:13-33), they grew spiritually blind. Stunningly blind! When Jesus came, they evaluated Him, after which their headquarters in Jerusalem issued the following official statement: "He hath [is possessed by] Beelzebub, and by the prince of the demons casteth he out demons" (Mark 3:22). And they held stubbornly to this position. Even after Jesus worked countless miracles, signs, and wonders of divine power and compassion, they still refused to acknowledge the obvious. Now here is our lesson: since they were the authorities, and people tend to blindly trust their authorities' opinions, scripturally accurate or not, tens of thousands of Jews also rejected Jesus. They are in hell today ... because their leaders got it wrong.

From Christian History

Church history gives many similarly tragic examples. Let us recall a few:

• In the 11th Century, Pope Urban II, purely for his and the Roman church's self-interest, issued a call for European Catholics to join him in a great Crusade to retake Palestine, specifically Jerusalem, from Muslim control. Why? So Christian pilgrims could visit the Holy Land without being robbed or harmed. To motivate the masses, Urban made a totally false promise: whoever fought under the banner of the cross would gain eternal salvation. Thousands of poor peasants, trusting implicitly in their great Pope, followed his call and died tragically by starvation, sickness, or sword. What is worse, they are in hell today ... because Urban got it wrong.

• In the 14th Century, John Wyclif, then Europe's greatest scholar, believed the Bible should be available in the common language of the people. So he and his followers (Lollards) set about to translate it and distribute as many handwritten Bibles as possible to the public. Determined to keep the Bible in Latin and its interpretation solely under the Roman Church's control, Pope Gregory XI denounced Wyclif's teachings as "vomit from the filthy dungeon of his breast." Many Englishmen bravely assisted Wyclif by secretly distributing his Bibles. But many more put blind faith in the opinions of their powerful Pontiff and his Cardinals and councils. Thus, having never read for themselves God's message of salvation in the Bible, they are in hell today ... because their leaders got it wrong.

• In the 16th century, after intense biblical studies, Martin Luther exposed the Roman Church's grave doctrinal errors and revealed the Bible's true message of justification by faith alone. Pope Leo X quickly denounced Luther and upheld the Church's teaching of salvation by sacraments. Many who read Luther's writings followed him and left the Roman Church to form new assemblies. But, tragically, many more remained loyal to their corrupt Pope. Lost, they are in hell as I write ... because Leo got it wrong.

• In 18th century England, John Wesley, an Anglican priest, began teaching salvation by a personal conversion experience (spiritual rebirth) rather than by keeping the sacraments of the Anglican church. As a result, many Anglican priests shut their pulpits to Wesley in an attempt to quench his message. Many Englishmen came to hear Wesley preach in the fields and public squares and were saved. Many others, however, trusting their Anglican clerics, rejected Wesley's message and are in hell today ... because their leaders got it wrong.

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The ministers I described at the beginning of this piece - who are mostly fine teachers and scholars holding correct doctrines in many areas of Christian theology - claim imputed righteousness alone, irrespective of righteous living, is all that is required. This is not a biblical but a populist position. Irresponsible Christians like it because it doesn't require change and growth; self-serving pastors like it because they don't have to challenge their people to change and grow. "Just stay as you are (or even backslide!) and you will be taken when Jesus appears" is their unspoken yet clearly communicated message. It is a message born of blind adherence to systematic theology, not an open-eyed reading of the unmistakably plain texts of the New Testament.

Jesus issued multiple, clear, binding, spiritual readiness conditions for those aspiring to experience the great privilege of being taken alive from earth to heaven without experiencing death (Matthew 24:36-25:13; Mark 13:32-37; Luke 21:34-36). And Paul, Peter, and John faithfully "echoed" His sobering alerts in their writings (Romans 13:11-14; 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6, 8; 5:12-23; Colossians 3:1-4; Titus 2:13-14; 2 Peter 3:10-14; 1 John 2:28; Revelation 16:15). Please consider this: if all their warnings do not matter, and are not binding, they have either ignorantly misinformed us or deceitfully misled us by issuing them - an unthinkable scenario! Our conclusion?

Instead of seeking to grow spiritually, carnal Christians are continuing to practice sin. Rather than submissively serving Christ in their tests, they are testing Him by serving themselves. These Christians have no scriptural assurance that they will be translated merely because at some point in the past they repented of sin, received Jesus, and professed Him as their Lord and Savior. That blessed initial surrender - the new birth - granted them eternal salvation by grace (John 3:8; 5:24; Acts 2:21). Thank God! But their spiritual rebirth did not automatically qualify them to be exempted from the world’s final test, the Tribulation. That honor is reserved for serious, successfully tested disciples who have humbly "kept the word of my patience" (Revelation 3:10), or steadily developed enduring faith by obeying Christ in their daily tests. They are "Philadelphia" Christians (Revelation 3:7-13), whereas carnal Christians are "Laodicean" in spirit (Revelation 3:14-22).

It is time to wake up and face not some but all Bible facts. Participation in the great rapture-deliverance, which is not a covenant benefit but a great honor previously experienced only by Enoch and Elijah, is reserved for Christians who honor Christ by steady trust and obedience (1 Samuel 2:30). And there is more.

I am equally grieved by some Charismatic and Pentecostal leaders - many of whom are dynamic ministers - who teach God wants believers to go through half, three-fourths, or even all the Tribulation. These Mid-Tribulation, Pre-Wrath, and Post-Tribulation rapture proponents ignore the following crucial prophetic facts: this present church age is the time of our testing; the Tribulation is designed as a final test for Israel and the unbelieving nations (Jeremiah 30:6-7; Daniel 9:24-27; Revelation 3:10); God's wrath begins on the first day of the Tribulation (Revelation 6:1-8; see Ezekiel 14:12-21); and Scripture repeatedly calls us to eagerly look for not Antichrist's but Christ's appearing (Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10; Hebrews 9:28; Revelation 22:7, 12-13, 17, 20). Their errant viewpoint deprives Christians of their only blessed, purifying, and anchoring hope (the rapture) in these desperately hopeless times. If their people believe they must go through the Tribulation, sadly, they will, though this is not God's will (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11)! Why? Their leaders got it wrong.¹

With these polar-opposite errors in mind - those teaching automatic escape for all Christians and those teaching all Christians must endure the Tribulation - we should respond by praying for each group to see the light and living daily as Christ has called and enabled us to live.

Living as Christ Has Called and Enabled Us

After spiritual rebirth, we should receive the mighty Baptism with the Holy Spirit, faithfully announced by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:11-12) and personally ministered by Jesus (Acts 2:32-33). God designed this full infusion of His Spirit to fully empower the Christ-life in us and enable us to do what we otherwise could not. Put bluntly, newly reborn Christians cannot live the fully victorious Christian life, or minister with dynamic divine power, without the Baptism with the Holy Spirit. If so, Jesus erred by designing an experience for us which we do not need! To conquer Everest, we must use oxygen on the final (4th) ascent - or die! Many Christians are trying to ascend spiritual Everest - walk in consistent spiritual maturity in this sinful world - without the "oxygen" Jesus wisely provided: the full endowment of the Spirit. It is also true that many Spirit-baptized Christians fail to live and minister victoriously. But this is due to disobedience, not lack of spiritual power.

Next, seek God "first" every day (Matthew 6:33). Search out sound biblical teaching; this is required, not optional. Submissively trust and obey God in your daily tests. When they are long, choose to endure so you may grow in enduring faith - the Spirit-born conviction that, no matter how strange, painful, or unfair your tests are presently, they will ultimately turn out exactly as God's Word says they will! At some point, the things seen will give way to the things unseen.

If in this process of walking in the light as Christ is in the light you stumble in sin, do not abandon your quest for spiritual maturity. Follow the Bible's instruction. Confess your sin fully and frankly - neither blaming others nor making excuses for yourself. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). Turn away from the sin ... immediately! Believe you are thoroughly forgiven and cleansed ... immediately! And resume walking in the "light" of scripture and honesty ... immediately!

Let the Holy Spirit transform you. Consistently yield to His will, follow His guidance, obey His checks, and respond when He corrects your attitudes or actions. His corrections come through several channels: Bible reading, teachings, sermons, conscience, pastors, elders, mentors, fellow disciples, and so forth. If we steadily reject the Spirit's corrections, we cannot be a member of Christ's submissive bride church.

Then serve Jesus joyfully! Use the gift(s) the Spirit has given you every chance you get. Pursue the divine call Jesus has placed on your life, running the race He has set before you, patiently, diligently, as to Christ (Hebrews 12:1-4). And stop prying into, envying, or imitating the races He has called others to run (John 21:18-22).

Lastly, know your ultimate goal: to know Jesus for yourself - experientially, closely, truly, sweetly, more and more - and to please Him daily. Faithfully fulfill our three great commissions. Be Christ's witness. Share His gospel. Help make disciples. And one more thing.

When suffering comes for Christ's sake, accept (carry) your crosses. They, too, are part of your Father's wise plan to transform you into the image of Him who was "despised," "rejected of men," "a man of sorrows," and "acquainted with grief" (Isaiah 53:3).

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Faithfully living this lifestyle creates "rapture assurance," or strong confidence that, whenever Jesus appears, you will be taken. It also grows Christ's love in you, which inspires you to help others find this same sure hope. Why?

You realize ... their leaders may have gotten it wrong!

Assured, and helping others,

Dr. Greg Hinnant

GREG HINNANT MINISTRIES

1. It was also not God's perfect will that the Hebrews wander 40 years in the wilderness before entering Canaan, but they did so due to their rebellion and unbelief.